MYSURU: With tourists, particularly youths, heading to water bodies to beat the rising mercury levels, the police are on their toes in Mandya and Mysuru districts to check incidents of drowning.
A majority of youths, including students and IT professionals, visit Muthathi falls, Barachukki and Gaganachukki falls in Malavalli-Kollegal taluks, Balamuri, Dodda Ghosai Ghats, Sangam in Srirangapatna, KRS Backwaters and Kapila and Cauvery river.
The drowning of degree students in Balamuri and Gagana Chukki falls recently has also forced the cops to put additional men near the water bodies.
The district administration has banned swimming in the Cauvery at Muthatti. It has put up sign boards warning people against swimming and marked spots where people drowned in the river.
The situation is also alarming at the Balamuri falls as the picnic spot has turned into a watery grave. Local police personnel have banned drunken people from entering the river.
The cops have also placed breath analysers at the entrance.
PSI Chandrashekar of Algur police station said they have stepped up patrolling along the Cauvery river in Muttathi.
He said six policemen, including an ASI and the District Reserve Police, are also deployed during weekends.
Chandrashekar said the drowning cases reduced from 33 cases in 2011-12, to 23 in 2012-13 and nine in 2014.
Mandya SP Borase Bhushan GulabRao said an expert team from Pune that visited Muttathi has recommended to put up a barricade on both the sides of the river.
He said the proposal has been sent to the District Tourism Council and a response wa Malvalli MLA P M Narendra Swamy said the authorities have put up a fence at Gagana Chukki Falls and deployed security guards to stop people from swimming in falls.
Narendra Swamy said the government has been appealed to release funds for the development of these tourists spots.